The Life Thief

by Cherie Mitchell

  Surprisingly, she slept dreamlessly and peacefully. She awoke feeling more than ready for whatever the day ahead held for her. She managed to eat a piece of toast with her morning coffee, feeling pleased that all of her health symptoms had responded well to her medications, and she almost felt like herself again. However, her composure was swiftly shattered when she received Michael’s text as she prepared to leave the house. Meant to ask you if we can keep the gory details to ourselves. Don’t want to stir up trouble so close to the elections.

  She had to read it twice, her anger mounting with every word. The gall of the man! All he cared about was his own lousy reputation! If he was so worried about the elections and how the public viewed him, why had he gone off and had an affair? She resisted throwing the phone against the side of the house. Breathe, Becky. She did not reply to his message.

  Alice offered a terse greeting when Becky arrived at the office. Becky responded just as tersely, unable to bring herself to work around Alice today. The typing had been done and Alice had printed it out and placed it on her desk but it was full of errors. Becky pointed them out and Alice took the pages back without saying a word.

  Sasha called at mid-morning to say she was on her way to another meeting with Jerome. The Hong Kong buyer was still interested but he wanted a walk-around the property via Skype. They chatted for a while before Sasha said she’d now arrived at Jerome’s house and she had to go. Becky hung up, realizing she hadn’t thanked Sasha for the flowers. She was a terrible friend, on top of everything else. Why did life suddenly feel so hard?

  “Here’s the keys for that condo.” Alice dropped a bundle of keys onto her Becky’s desk and Becky stared at them, having no clue what they were for.

  “What condo?”

  “The one that Sasha asked you to photograph while she was out this morning.” Alice had already walked away. She picked up her handbag and returned to stand beside Becky’s desk. “Don’t you remember?”

  “No.” Becky searched through the chaos of her thoughts but she could not remember Sasha saying anything about it. However, there was no need for her to doubt Alice’s words. They’d often photographed homes for one another in the past, although Sasha had not mentioned it on their call just now.

  “Look, if you don’t mind I’m going to finish up now. I have the chance to start another contract position on Monday and the company wants to meet with me today. Will that be a problem?” Alice’s expression was daring her to say that yes, it would be a problem.

  “Uh.” Becky looked around helplessly. Sasha wasn’t here and if she went to photograph the property she’d have to close the offices. But did it matter? She would have her phone with her and she could direct the office phone line to ring through to her mobile. “Sure.” She smiled at Alice’s impassive face. “I’d hoped that we could’ve had coffee and donuts together on your last day but of course you have to go now if you have the chance for another job.” She stood up and held out her hand. “You’ve been a wonderful help.”

  Alice returned her handshake with a loose, disinterested grip. “Thanks. Are you going to that condo now?”

  “Yes, in a few minutes.” Becky sat back down in her chair and tore off a sticky note from the pad. “I’ll leave a note for Sasha in case she comes back. Did she leave you the address for the condo?”

  “I have it here.” Alice tapped her handbag. “Can you drop me off somewhere on the way? I want to go to my friend’s house. I’ll get ready there for my interview.”

  “I can do that.” It was the least she could do. She glanced at Alice’s clothes, wondering why her smart skirt and white shirt weren’t appropriate for the interview, but she decided to hold her tongue. “I’ll just use the bathroom and we’ll be on our way.”

  She stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, gazing at this new version of Becky Monroe, this Becky with a boyfriend who’d cheated on her. This Becky with a tattoo to cover her past mistakes and a lifelong STD infection to reflect her current mistakes. This new Becky was still functioning, she had been able to make a decision about an employee’s termination and she was about to run an errand to help her business partner out while still juggling the responsibilities of her own job. Yes, she could do this. One day at a time and keep moving forward. Anything was possible and she was more than willing to prove it.

  Alice was reading the note that Becky had left attached to Sasha’s bouquet of flowers when Becky walked out of the bathroom. Becky bit her tongue again. In just twenty minutes, Alice would be out of her life and that would be one less problem for her to contend with.

  Alice was vague about where her friend’s house was, saying she’d give Becky directions as they drove. The interior of the car quickly filled with the smell of the products Alice had used on her hair, products that carried a different scent than the toiletries from the retreat. Perhaps the girl was finally finding her way out of her financial difficulties. At least Becky could feel good for helping her with that by giving her the opportunity for steady work at Monroe & Freeman. She attempted to make conversation. “Did you hear that Far Horizons has closed down?”

  “No, I didn’t hear.” Alice had her head down and she was searching through her handbag. Becky returned her focus to the road ahead, vaguely aware that Alice had dropped her handbag to the floor and had folded her hands into her lap.

  “Turn here,” Alice said suddenly. “And take the next left.”

  “I drive this way home some days. It’s a good alternative route when the traffic is heavy.”

  “Mmmm.” Alice stared straight ahead as Becky turned the corner and stopped at the traffic lights.

  “Well,” said Becky brightly. “Whoever would’ve thought that when we first shared a cabin together we’d be in each other’s lives for so long?”

  Alice nodded and Becky lapsed into silence. If Alice didn’t want to talk, so be it.

  “Turn here,” Alice said again. “Then turn right at the second set of lights.”

  Ten minutes later, Becky turned into an all too familiar street. She was surprised when Alice directed her to pull into the curb outside her own house. “This is my house,” she said uncertainly. “Why are we here? Does your friend live near here?”

  Alice was obviously in no mood to provide answers. “Turn into the driveway, park the car and get out. Don’t say anything, keep your hands where I can see them, and walk directly around the side of the house.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Alice? Are you feeling okay?” Becky hadn’t turned off the engine and the car was still idling on the street outside her house.

  “Alice, are you feeling okay?” Alice mimicked. She was still staring straight ahead, her expression grim. “I told you to park the car in the driveway.”

  “Excuse me?” Becky glanced in the rear vision mirror, ready to do a U-turn and drive Alice back to the city. Or even better, tell her to get out now. The woman could get herself to her friend’s house. Becky had enough on her plate today and didn’t want any part of whatever childish game Alice was playing.

  Alice lifted her hands out of her lap and Becky was horrified to see the glint of a knife blade. “Are you going to do as I ask or do we have to raise the stakes?”

  “Are you out of your freaking mind?” Becky was already fumbling for the door handle. “I’m calling the police.”

  “No you aren’t.” Alice touched the sharp tip of the knife against Becky’s thigh. “Do as I say and you won’t get hurt. It’s a simple formula and easy enough for anyone to follow.”

  “Are you going to let me get out of the car without stabbing me?” Becky asked unsteadily. How had she ended up in this nightmare? She glanced at her handbag where it sat on the console. Could she grab her phone and jump out of the car? She could run screaming into Sandra’s house. Her neighbor’s car was parked in her driveway and unless she had her toddler out in the stroller, she’d be home now.

  “Of course.” Alice pricked the knife tip into Becky’s skin for another intrusive in
stant. “Just do it nice and slowly.”

  At any other time, Becky would’ve told her she’d been watching too much TV. However, Alice was scaring her now. She placed her hand on the door handle and gave the girl a wobbly half-smile. “Do you want to go somewhere to talk about this?”

  “Out.” Alice jabbed the knife in her direction again. Becky took a deep breath and carefully opened the door. The Beechfields’ dog was barking. Even if she did scream, would anyone hear her over that din?

  Alice was by her side almost as soon as Becky’s feet hit the pavement. “Walk past the bushes and go up the side of the house.”

  Becky obediently did as she was told. What did Alice want? To rob her? She could take whatever she wanted. Becky was beyond caring about anything that remained in the house. Except Lucifer. She couldn’t have Lucifer.

  Alice’s voice was hot against her ear. “Keep walking. Go over to the pool house and take the key out from under the doormat.”

  “You know it’s there?” The walk across the damp grass to the pool house felt interminable. Something was poking into her back but she wasn’t sure if it was Alice’s hand or the knife.

  “Yes, I know it’s there. You’re not too smart considering you’re a property agent, Becky. Don’t you know never to leave a key under the mat?”

  They’d reached the door and Becky slowly stooped down to pick the key up from out of the dust that had collected beneath the mat. She slid the key into the door, wiggling it several times before she was able to open it. She turned back to face Alice as the girl slammed and locked the door behind them. “What do you want from me?”

  Alice’s tone had changed. She’d dropped the harsh edge from her words. “I thought it would be nice to have some girl time again. Just the two of us. You’re always so busy at work and we don’t get the chance to talk like we did when we stayed at Far Horizons together.”

  “We didn’t stay there together. We shared a cabin due to an overbooking. It certainly wasn’t my choice.”

  Alice shrugged as she sat down on the sofa. She picked up her bag and delved inside, leaving the knife on her lap. She pulled out a pair of glasses and put them on, although Becky could not recall ever seeing her using them in the office. Was that why she’d been avoiding doing the typing? Did she have trouble seeing without her glasses? Alice dropped the knife into her bag and began to open a large-sized deck of cards decorated with colorful images, talking as calmly as if they’d just arrived at a restaurant for a lunch date. “I thought I might give you a tarot card reading. I bought a deck from Powell’s Bookstore yesterday while I was on my lunch break. I know you told me you don’t believe in this stuff but they’re lots of fun.”

  “I don’t want a tarot card reading, thank you. Can you let me out?” Alice had locked the door but Becky knew the lock wasn’t very secure. She hadn’t called the locksmith yet despite Michael’s note. If she pulled hard enough on the handle, could she get the lock to release?

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Alice began to lay the cards out in three piles on the low table in front of the sofa. “Sit down, Becky. The bed is the perfect spot for you to sit. You’ll be able to see clearly from there.”

  Becky cautiously lowered herself down onto the bed. “You’ll find yourself in plenty of trouble if you keep me here against my will. There are laws against this, Alice.”

  Alice continued to lay the cards face down on the table as if she hadn’t spoken. “There. They’re all lined up like a cute little wisdom of owls.”

  “What are you talking about?” Becky glanced at the door again, wondering what her chances were if she tried to make a run for it.

  “A wisdom of owls.” Alice pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose with her finger and sat back on her heels. “A group of owls is called a wisdom or a parliament. A friend of mine told me that but everyone already knows owls are wise.” She nodded at the cards. “Which pile do you want?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Becky gazed at her, wondering why a memory was prickling at the back of her mind. “Oh!” she gasped. “Those glasses! You were the temporary receptionist working at my medical center. You picked up the Far Horizons leaflet and you opened the door for me.” Slowly, slowly, a myriad of loose ends began to tie together in Becky’s feverish brain. “Did you phone the retreat to ask if I’d made a booking? Did you purposely follow me there?”

  Alice grinned. “Clever girl, although it did take you quite a while to put the pieces together. I thought you might have cottoned on long before now.”

  “It was you.” Becky shrank back in horror as it all began to make awful sense. “You stole my identity. You were the thief who was using my credit card. You used it to buy yourself new clothes and to get a tattoo the same as mine.” Her head was swimming. This was almost too much for her to comprehend.

  “I did. It wasn’t hard to do. I made a copy of your credit card while you were at the medical rooms and then I used it for mostly online purchases. You were too distracted to notice. You’re always distracted. You need to focus yourself now.” She pointed at the three piles of cards. “Choose one. I’m losing my patience.”

  Becky gazed at the piles of cards, wondering why Alice wanted to play games at a time like this. Her thoughts tumbled over one another. Alice’s constant scribbling in her notebook – she was taking notes about her life, just as Becky had originally suspected! “You’ve been stalking me. Why are you doing this? And why did you choose me?”

  “The cards, Becky.”

  “I don’t care about the cards.” She watched as Alice casually tapped her fingers on the handle of the knife where it poked from her bag. “The middle pile,” she said hurriedly.

  “Great! I always choose the middle pile too. We have so much in common.” Alice set the other two stacks of cards to the side and picked up the one that Becky had chosen. “Isn’t this fun?”

  “When will you let me go? Sasha will want to know how I got on at the condo. She’ll start to worry if she doesn’t hear from me.”

  Alice ignored her. She turned over the first card on the pile and laid it face up on the table. “King of Cups. A love interest.” She wrinkled her nose and gave Becky a coy sidelong glance. “That must be Michael.”

  “He’s my past love interest. Michael and I are finished.”

  Alice nodded sagely. “I heard about that. Have I ever told you how much I adore that sweet little mole on Michael’s thigh?”

  Becky stared at her but Alice didn’t look up as she flipped the next card over. “Tower card. Dramatic upheaval.” She peered at Becky mischievously through her hair. “How about that? The cards never lie.”

  “You took my boyfriend?” This news was staggering. Was Alice telling the truth? What could Michael possibly see in a woman like her?

  “He wasn’t so hard to take. I think he’s been telling lies to you for quite some time, Becky. Little fibbies that slowly grew bigger. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that he wasn’t always at work when he told you he was there. Michael has been a bad, bad boy.” She turned over the next card. “Seven of Cups. Illusions. What have you been hiding from yourself?”

  “You’re psychotic.”

  Alice looked pleased. “Perhaps I am. The next card is the Hermit. Oooh, Becky. Looks like you might be spending some time alone.”

  Becky felt another twinge of fear. Alice was not behaving rationally. How could she hope to talk sense into the woman when what she was dealing with was clearly an unhinged person?

  “And the last card.” Alice turned it over with a flourish. She stared at the image for several minutes before looking up at Becky with narrowed eyes. “The Lovers. This should be my card.”

  “Have it,” Becky said hastily. “I don’t want it. I don’t want Michael. I’m done with him for good. Our relationship is over and there isn’t any hope of a reconciliation.”

  “I don’t know if want him. I only wanted him at the beginning because he was yours.” Alice began to pack away her c
ards. “What shall we do next?”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Bizarrely, Alice made them both a coffee from the coffee machine, chattering away the whole while as if they’d merely stopped at Becky’s house to take a break between phone calls back at the office. “Do you want any creamer in yours? Oooh, I’ve just had one of those déjà vu moments. It took me back to all the fun we had at the cabin. This is just like old times.”

  “Yes, just like old times.” Becky took the coffee cup from Alice, although her stomach was too queasy to allow her to drink. “Did you choose me at random? Did I just happen to be the person who walked through the door of the medical center at the wrong time?”

  “No. I knew about you before you walked into the medical center. It was just good luck that you walked in while I was working there.” She smiled winningly. “Your distraction when you handed me your credit card was also very good luck. You need to work on those distractions. They’re not doing you any good.”

  “Was the double booking of the cabin just good luck, too?” Becky remembered Marian asking if she knew Alice Cooper. Yet another cog turned and clicked into place. “Or did you arrange that when you made your booking?”

  “I didn’t arrange it, although I did say to Marian that my friend Becky Monroe was staying at the retreat on the same dates as I was. I guess you could say it was serendipitous that we ended up in the same cabin.” She sipped thoughtfully at her coffee. “Marian wouldn’t know her ass from her elbow. She’s clearly a disorganized person. No wonder the retreat closed down.”

  “No, the retreat closed down because Marian had to go away to look after her ailing father. It had nothing to do with Marian’s disorganization or anything else.” How could they be sitting here like this, having a normal conversation when Alice had just kidnapped her at knifepoint? “What do you want from me? If it’s money, I’m sure we can arrange something.” Already, she was imagining her discussion with Hank. She’d arrange for an overdraft on the business loan. He’d agree to it without any questions, she knew he would. She’d already told him how well the business was going. She could explain the extra money away as being necessary to get a new service offering off the ground.